DeLorean DMC-12

       
 
 
Welly DeLorean DMC-12
Welly DeLorean DMC-12 Packaging Welly DeLorean DMC-12 DMC Grille Detail Welly DeLorean DMC-12 Interior Welly DeLorean DMC-12 Engine Welly DeLorean DMC-12 Chassis Welly DeLorean DMC-12 Rear

 
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Packaging

The stock DeLorean is packaged in a primarily blue window box with lighter blue swirl effects and images of the 1:1 DMC-12 on the bottom right of the front panel and top left of the top panel (they are the same photo, but the one on the top panel has been mirror-flipped). "De Lorean DMC-12" is written next to each photo, and "1/24 Diecast Metal" is written in the same font in the top right corner of the front panel. The Welly logo is in the top left corner of this panel, and the safety information is in the bottom right corner of the top panel. Both end flaps repeat the make, model, scale, and material information, along with the DMC logo, Welly logo, and "Premium Collectible." The back panel has a marketing writeup of the 1:1 (including its movie role) wrapping around a duotone photograph of the car shot in profile, as well as another repeat of the make/model text. The bottom of the box has all of the legal information along with co-sells of Welly's Back to the Future vehicles. The interior tray is silver-gray, with another photo of the 1:1 behind the "De Lorean" script written as it appears on the rear bumper of the car. The model is held to the tray with two screws, and the doors and hatchback are held closed with plastic bands. It's interesting that Welly used only one photo of the 1:1 with its doors open (the one inside the box). Most publicity photos really hype the gullwing doors, so it's nice to see the "sleek version" of the DMC-12 featured so prominently. Overall the box art is very well done: it's simple but classy.

 

Casting/Paint

Overall this is a beautifully cast replica. The panels are all smooth and clean, with no rough edges, low spots, or other casting defects. Metal is used for the main body, doors, roof panel, and rear louvers. Plastic accessories are used for many f the finer details, like the grille, front spoiler, mirrors, side louvers, rear bumper cover, and taillight panel. The headlights, windshield, rear side windows, rear window, and taillights are clear plastic. Red, ambler, and black paint helps to replicate the look of the 1:1 taillights. The parking lights are transparent amber plastic. Chrome is used behind the headlights and taillights (though the mounting pins diminish the effect somewhat) and mirror glass. Tires are vinyl over plastic wheels, and the interior is cast in gray and black with decent detailing. The only real problem area is the gauge cluster, which is represented by a rather crude sticker. My engine is missing it's plastic insert, so it is just the top few inches of a gold-painted engine block and a black air cleaner in the middle of a gray pan. The chassis is well done, with much better engine detailing, detailed suspension components, and a separate muffler. There are three mounting holes in the engine bay, suggesting more details should have been here - but whatever was planned didn't make it to this car. The silver paint is expertly applied, and the silver-gray of the nose and tail fascias is very well done. The painted trim, including the front bumper cover, side trim, marker lights, rockers, window surrounds, and hatch, is generally straight and properly positioned, but shows a great deal of ghosting at edges and seams. The door locks and wheel centers are printed perfectly, and the rear license plate is a simple black DMC logo on a white background.

 

Features/Accessories

The doors and rear louvers open, and both hold in the open position very well. The doors don't seem to sit perfectly flush against the sides of the body near the bottom, but this does not seem to effect all models.

 

Accuracy

The overall shape of the DMC-12 is unmistakable, and Welly generally did a good job of capturing it. Unfortunately, there are quite a few details that they also missed. The biggest accuracy problem I see is the wheels: these are about 20 spokes short of matching the 1:1's turbines. The profile for each spoke has been exaggerated as well: from a distance, the extra steps in the DeLorean's wheels nearly disappear, but here they're too obvious. There is also some debate about the overall body proportions: the model seems too tall from certain angles, but dead-on from others. This might simply be a problem with viewing such a radical design at 1/24 the size. The side windows are completely open, which is impossible for the DMC-12 but likely considered necessary to get the doors open easily. Finally, some of the BTTF components were reused here, including the overhead console and the chassis pan. The latter is actually somewhat different for each version (with updated copyright information), but all four have the same extra circuitry that should only be present on the time machines. Scaling is a good 1/24.

 

Overall

The DeLorean DMC-12 has such a strong following that I'm surprised there is only one stock version available in 1/24. Although Welly did a pretty good job here, there area few details still holding it back. A little more work on the engine and correct wheels would have easily put this in the "must have" category, but even with those faults I still recommend this replica.

 

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